Chévere Latin Café: Big Discounts For City, Courthouse Staff

JOLIET, IL - Last week I got a press release from a small downtown Joliet restaurant that I've walked past numerous times since it opened last year, so it caught my eye. Chevere Latin Cafe is now offering big discounts to city of Joliet employees and workers at the Will County Courthouse through Nov. 30. Chevere is at 81 N. Chicago St. It's in the city plaza next to the University of St. Francis satellite campus.

"To all employees of the City of Joliet Illinois. We want to extend our appreciation by giving you a 20% discount on your purchases over $12 starting immediately. We would appreciate if you share this invitation to all departments (Fire Dpt., Police, Library, Health Department, Court and more.)"

Before I published the news item, I figured that I needed to check out the current menu myself.

I stopped here for lunch on Thursday. I thought about going with the Chevere burger - bacon or ham, cheese, egg, greens, tomato and onion, but in the end I ordered the Tango.

The Tango consists of grilled steak - or chicken - tomato, greens and chimichurri sauce. You also get your choice of soup or french fries.

Teresa, one of the owners, convinced me to go with the chicken soup.

Although I love my fries, the chicken soup was excellent, so I had no regrets. Their steak tango was a great choice for my lunch. I'd suggest you give it a try if you are not sure what to order here.

I like the fact that Chevere offers something different for Joliet's downtown. It's Venezuelan cuisine. The owners, Teresa and Armando Malave are both nice and friendly people.

It's a pretty wide-ranging menu featuring sandwiches, arepas, homemade beef burgers and chicken wings. The Cuban sandwich is one of their signature meals.

When I was here, a few of the inside tables were filled with lunch customers, and I saw a Will County Sheriff's Department deputy ordering takeout just before I walked inside.

Chevere is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

"You can come to our place an have a zero stress meal. Healthy food and very clean place," proclaims Chevere's press release. "We can deliver to you in Downtown Joliet area if the order is over $40. Please place your order early. We start taking phone call orders from 10:30 a.m."

At any rate, if you're downtown for legal business at the Will County Courthouse or you work for the city of Joliet, but haven't tried Chevere yet, I would suggest you try it out.

Want to know more? Visit the website for Chevere Latin Cafe.

Images taken by John Ferak/Joliet Patch Editor